Beatdown at The Forum: Juan Manuel Marquez survives Mike Alvarado

Juan Manuel Marquez (56-7-1, 40 KOs) came out to fight Saturday night and put on a show in California against tough American Mike Alvarado to win the inconsequential WBO International Welterweight title and put him in contention for a probable megafight with old nemesis Manny Pacquiao this fall.

The Mexican legend earned the nod of the three judges: Robert Byrd (119-108), Julie Lederman (117-109) and Max De Luca (117-109), who were unanimous with their judgment.

Prior to Juan Manuel Marquez's showdown with Mike Alvarado, The Forum, the historic arena in Inglewood and the past home of the Los Angeles Lakers during their "Showtime" era, was the site of Juan Manuel Marquez's 12 previous fights as a young fighter on the rise, but he last fought there in 1999. That's why Juan Manuel Marquez's triumphant return to what he referred to as his 'home' was nothing but sweet, as his stock went down following his split decision loss to Timothy Bradley in Las Vegas last year.

The victory against a young fighter like Mike Alvarado proved that Juan Manuel Marquez is still a formidable fighter at 40 years old. When younger fighters have fallen by the wayside, the 'old' Juan Manuel Marquez, like fine wine, continues to amaze the boxing world with his age-defying hand speed, durability and power.

With the majority of the crowd of 12,000 behind him, Juan Manuel Marquez, ever the technician, took the fight to the tentative and gun-shy Alvarado and controlled the first half of the 12-round bout. But Marquez found himself into a firefight when the sleepwalking Alvarado suddenly came to life right after being sent crashing to the canvas and into the ropes in the 8th on a powerful right to the face, reminiscent of the punch that knocked Manny Pacquiao out. Alvarado survived the round and got a tongue-lashing from his corner "to let his hands go."

Having jolted back to his senses, Mike Alvarado went for broke in the 9th and engaged Juan Manuel Marquez in a dogfight. And with 2 minutes left in the round, the Denver native beat the Mexican to the punch and landed a powerful right to the chin to send Marquez on the seat of his pants, reminiscent of the way he landed when Manny Pacquiao bombed him in their first fight.

Then in the 10th, instead of sustaining his form from the last round, the enigmatic Mike Alvarado chose to dance around, evade a brawl and fight in spurts, while Juan Manuel Marquez pressed the action more and landed hard-thudding combinations on Mike Alvarado.

After being berated again and reminded that "you know you need a knockout" by his corner, Mike Alvarado came out smoking in the 11th and stayed in front of Juan Manuel Marquez in a slugfest. A right hand from Alvarado connected and buckled Marquez's legs (like the way they buckled in the Timothy Bradley fight), but Marquez was able to hold his body up, regain his balance and come back to battle until the bell sounded.

After the hard-fought fight, Juan Manuel Marquez said, "I expected this kind of fight. I said it was going to be a tough fight and I said it was going to be a difficult fight."

As that old cliche goes, it was the fight that "separates the men from the boys" -- and Juan Manuel Marquez proved why he is still the man to beat in the welterweight division and one of the best fighters in the history of the sport.

The 12th was all vintage Juan Manuel Marquez as he pressed the action while Mike Alvarado elected to revert to his old shell and let Marquez dictate the tempo and outcome of the fight.

Alvarado, with both gloves up and close to his face, waited for the opportunity to land his big shots, but Marquez did not let him be. There's an old saying that "patience is a virtue," but it is not the case in the fight game -- as the clock ticked away, suddenly gun-shy Mike Alvarado just let the biggest fight of his career pass him by.


 Note: Any comments, reactions and suggestions are welcome. Hit me up at detexam@yahoo.com or join us at Detroit Boxing Examiner Facebook Page.

*This article was first published on Detroit Boxing Examiner.

Nonito Donaire tames "The Menace" with his fists

photo credit: Scott Halleran/Getty Images

Nonito Donaire (31-1, 20 KOs), the WBO super bantamweight champion made short work of challenger Jorge Arce inside three rounds. The Filipino Flash blitzed El Travieso in the fight and into retirement with his fast and powerful hands. And as usual, Nonito Donaire made an emphatic statement with his fists on Saturday night at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.

The total number of punches thrown by Nonito Donaire belies his dominance but confirms the power packed in his hands: landing 27 of 93 punches thrown for 30% clip against Jorge Arce's anemic 13 of 96 connection for a mediocre 14% rate.

Jorge Arce (61-7-2, 46 KOs), the Mexican veteran, was never in the fight. Aside from skills and talent, the Filipino fighter's edge in all departments are enormous: the punching power difference was obvious, the reach advantage was glaring, and the disparity in size was plain to see. Yes, Jorge Arce was tailor-made for Nonito Donaire to be massacred.

It was apparent to the casual ring observer that Jorge Arce was intimidated by his opponent's reputation inside the ring even before he climbed into it. Thus, we can say, like many that came before him, Jorge Arce already lost the battle inside his head and only needed a validation of some sort inside the ring to confirm what he feared or believed.

Nonito Donaire is boxing's version of "The Great Intimidator." Yes, folks, that's what Nonito Donaire does to his opponents. How many times have we seen fighters with glowing records who melted under Nonito Donaire's glare? How many times have we seen boxers with solid ring credentials who tripped when they entered the ring with Nonito Donaire? Now we can add Jorge Arce's name to that growing list of Nonito Donaire's 'famous' victims.

After a ho-hum first round, Nonito Donaire sent an omen of things to come to the very wary Jorge Arce, with a short right straight down the middle that led to the referee's mandatory eight count on the Mexican in the second round.

In the fateful third round, Jorge Arce abandoned his cautious approach in favor of his old reliable style and decided to mix it up with Nonito Donaire. Big mistake, as the Filipino Flash quickly put an end to his night: a combination of a powerful right and three successive lefts put Jorge Arce on his back with less than a second left in the round.

Yes Houston, Nonito Donaire had no problem at all in disposing Jorge Arce in his usual 'boring' fashion. Jorge Arce was easy pickings for Nonito Donaire and many boxing observers believed that we have not seen Nonito Donaire's best yet.

Maybe a fight with Abner Mares or Guillermo Rigondeaux, two of the best fighters in the division, will be the catalyst for the real Nonito Donaire to finally burst out of his shell?


Note: This article was first published on Detroit Fight Sports Examiner

Manny Pacquiao: "No Excuses"

“I want people who watch this fight to be satisfied. I don’t care about a belt and I don’t care about the money – I want to win in style.”- Manny Pacquiao

Juan Manuel Marquez better watch out. Manny Pacquiao is going to put the hurt tonight. But that will only happen if the Filipino boxing superstar is in top shape and true to his pronouncements.

We may say, Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez have fought for 36 rounds before, and the Filipino fighter managed to put the Mexican down four times but failed to finish him off; what else is new this time around?

For a change, the news that came out of his training camp was nothing but positive, encouraging and spectacular. They say that Manny Pacquiao is very focused and has worked very hard for this fight. Gone are the usual distractions: the booze, the gambling, the women and the late nights. They advertised that the fire in his belly is back and that he has knocked down several sparring partners this time around, a fact that has not been seen in his training camp since his preparation for the Miguel Cotto fight as proof.

Yet amid all these pronouncements and press releases, many of us remain skeptical since we all have heard this kind of news before, and we all have read this kind of script before, and we all have seen this kind of movie before.

Truth is, Manny Pacquiao has not been the same fighter inside the ring ever since he showed mercy on a bloodied Miguel Cotto in 2009. He then went out and had fun with Joshua Clottey and made mince-meat of Antonio Margarito a year later. And in 2011, instead of fighting, Manny Pacquiao engaged Shane Mosley in a 'touched-gloved' diplomacy and did not take Juan Manuel Marquez seriously in their trilogy.

And last June, Manny Pacquiao cruised and sleepwalked on Timothy Bradley, which he could have easily taken care of if he only cared enough to push for a stoppage. And so Manny Pacquiao paid the price for his lackluster performance by eventually losing the said fight albeit a controversial one.

Yes, Manny Pacquiao has been shamed and humbled by the Bradley debacle. And he is on a mission to bounce back and show the boxing world that he can still be a fireball inside the ring.

Yes, despite his age and the wear and tear, Manny Pacquiao wants to prove that he can still be the 'Typhoon from the Pacific' who can unleash a storm against his opponent. Yes, Manny Pacquiao wants to silence his critics and convince the skeptics and regain the stature that made him one of the most loved, if not the best fighter of his era.

Manny Pacquiao states that tonight, there will be "no doubts this time" when he hammers the final nail on the coffin on the Juan Manuel Marquez question.

However, all these talks about Manny Pacquiao's exploits in training camp would not matter if on fight night, Manny Pacquiao fails to deliver. All these press releases to be the 'old' Manny Pacquiao and knock out Juan Manuel Marquez will be for naught if he fails to pull the trigger.

So, if Manny Pacquiao hopes to 'win in style', then all he has to do is bear in mind that old famous Nike slogan, "Just Do It."

 Note: This article was previously posted on Detroit Fight Sports Examiner

Juan Manuel Marquez: In search of the holy "grain"

If we want to understand Juan Manuel Marquez's mentality as a fighter, we only need to look back in all the things that he did and the discipline that goes with them so that he can acquire "that little grain of difference" against his opponents.

And there is no other fighter that can make Juan Manuel Marquez shift into overdrive in preparation for a fight than Manny Pacquiao. He engaged the Filipino superstar in three brutal wars that could have gone either way, but he ended up on the losing end twice (2008, 2011) and managed to eke out a draw in one (2004).

And there is no other topic that can make Juan Manuel Marquez's blood curdle than the mention of his defeats to Manny Pacquiao. His setbacks to the Filipino fighter are what drive him to prepare harder and resort to unconventional methods just so he can have even the slightest edge over his nemesis.

Yes, in the mind of Juan Manuel Marquez, he believed that he has won all three of their fights, a belief that only adds fuel to his desire to finally get one over Manny Pacquiao. And tonight he will have his chance to finally end years of frustration, quiet all his detractors and unburden him of the weights on his shoulders.

Juan Manuel Marquez's desperation bordering to obssession to finally beat Manny Pacquiao is one for the books; because of his unconventional approach in his quest for boxing's holy grail, Juan Manuel Marquez at one time or another has become the butt of jokes among fans and fighters alike.

After all, nobody in the boxing world has the mental toughness and intestinal fortitude that Juan Manuel Marquez has exhibited in preparation for a fight. His burning desire to have that wee-bit of an advantage once led him to drinking his own urine to no avail.

Juan Manuel Marquez has never shied away from using both traditional and new technology to enhance his chances of winning a fight. He uses the hyperbaric chamber to breathe 100% pure oxygen and has also incorporated 'cupping therapy' in his regimen to relax his 39-year old body.

And that search for "that little grain of difference" found him hooking up with Angel "Memo" Heredia, a trainer with a dark and shady past who once bragged in a 2009 interview that modern day testing for performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) in sports is 'laughable' -- Juan Manuel Marquez has made what many boxing observers believed to be a pact with the devil.

So, Juan Manuel Marquez with Angel "Memo" Heredia overseeing his strength and conditioning training has transformed himself into a hulking, muscular, well-chiseled specimen. He professes that he feels good and is ready to engage Manny Pacquiao in a no-holds-barred fight. He proclaims that his hard work and his new-found strength and speed will make the big difference in the fight. And he also vows that he will go for a knockout against Manny Pacquiao this time around.

But whether Juan Manuel Marquez has really found 'that little grain of difference' with Memo Heredia in his corner for this fight remains to be seen. Juan Manuel Marquez will still need to go out there and prove his mettle against Manny Pacquiao to earn the nod of the boxing public.  Juan Manuel Marquez needs to commit and take the fight to Manny Pacquiao to show the judges who is in charge inside the ring.  As they usually say, a warrior does not waste his time waiting for the enemy to commit mistakes and good fortune always favors the brave.

Tonight, a victory by Juan Manuel Marquez will be a vindication of his long quest and the road that he has taken for that elusive W against Manny Pacquiao. But another defeat in the hands of his traditional nemesis will not only be devastating but a bitter pill to swallow for the fighter from Mexico.

So, what would Juan Manuel Marquez do?




Note: This article was previously posted on Detroit Fight Sports Examiner

Dazed and Confused: Donaire dazzles, Nishioka crumbles in California

photo credit: Harry How/Getty Images

When Roy Jones, Jr. speaks about Nonito Donaire, Jr.'s attributes as a boxer, the former pound-for-pound great has only positive things to say: "Donaire has the skills, speed, power, agility, great foot movement and very explosive!" He opined that Donaire has the "quality to be what a pound-for-pound fighter is" and believes the Filipino fighter is the "best fighter in the world today."

By disposing every fighter who steps in his way with ease, Nonito Donaire, Jr. was the prohibitive favorite coming into the fight to win over a supposedly tough and durable Toshiaki Nishioka, the WBC super bantamweight emeritus. On paper, the protagonists' resumes were impressive as both were on a hot win streak: Donaire has not lost a fight in 11 years while Nishioka has not tasted defeat in 8 years. Throughout their careers, they have faced quality opponents and have earned their rightful place in the sport.

And by virtue of their fearsome records (Donaire 29-1, 18 KOs and Nishioka 39-4-3, 24 KOs) and their reputations as two of the best fighters in the division, it was only fitting that the people inside the arena and those glued to their TV sets were expecting nothing but a barnburner from Nonito Donaire, Jr. and Toshiaki Nishioka. After all, they were not nicknamed the Filipino Flash and Speed King respectively for nothing.

In fact, the promoters, HBO Boxing and their rah-rah boys have bombarded the boxing sphere for weeks about the Donaire-Nishioka super bantamweight showdown for the WBO title. They were so sure about the fireworks that will explode on fight night that they were pronouncing the event as Fight of the Year (FOY) material. But some of them, though, have probably not heard of Robert Burns before, yet the Ploughman Poet's words echoed at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA on fight night: "The best laid schemes o' mice an' men."

And so the fight went on with only Nonito Donaire, Jr. showing up for the fight. Toshiaki Nishioka, the Japanese samurai, was a no-show and nowhere to be found in the biggest stage of the biggest fight of his career. No Kamikaze attacks, no Banzai charge but just a token resistance from the fighter from the land of the rising sun.

In the fight, Toshiaki Nishioka exhibited one of the worst cases of nerves in recent memory, which is quite a surprise especially for somebody who was touted as a warrior. In this particular fight, Nishioka was mentally and physically finished just seconds into the first round and probably regrets finding himself trading leather with Nonito Donaire, Jr. He was so wary and intimidated by Nonito Donaire, Jr.'s vaunted left hook that he spent the night in retreat, on the defensive and refusing to engage in battle.

With just 58 seconds remaining in the sixth round, Nishioka's worst fear came in the form of a left upper cut to the chin from Donaire that dropped him on the seat of his pants. Though he tried to put up some fights in the next few rounds after that, it was clear that he does not have the will to go to war with the Filipino.

And with 1:54 in the 9th round, Nonito Donaire, Jr.'s right straight landed into Nishioka's kisser that snapped his head and put him on the seat of his pants for the second time in the fight. Although the Japanese fighter was able to beat the count, it was the prelude to the end of the ugly fight as his corner finally threw in the towel shortly thereafter to end his pitiful night.

Nonito Donaire, Jr., the Filipino Flash dazzled us with his power and quick hands, his double-fisted attacks, his purposeful movements and solid footwork inside the ring. We can even say that Donaire's offensive arsenal is one of the best, if not the best in the business. Yet, to some people watching the fight, the masterpiece that Donaire was painting against Nishioka inside the ring seemed to lack the proverbial explosion of color and soul that many expect from him.

From all angles, it was a clinical demolition administered by Nonito Donaire, Jr. on the hapless and bewildered Toshiaki Nishioka. But despite outclassing his opponent, the Filipino Flash failed to put on the requisite fireworks that were needed in the fight. Some people even believed that Nonito Donaire, Jr. could have ended the fight early if he wanted to, just to save them from the agony of watching a one-sided fight.
And Nonito Donaire, Jr.'s post-fight statements supports their belief.

"We know that we can end the fight with one punch. And that what's happened. We just want him to make a mistake and well get him. And he made a mistake."

"When you do engage, Nonito is a surgeon. The demolition man comes in and knocks you out."

For all of Nonito Donaire, Jr.'s talent and skills, time and again and sometimes through no fault of his own, he has uncannily found himself in boring one-sided fights. Because of Nonito Donaire, Jr.'s huge talent and skills, the bar for his exploits inside the ring was set way up high. Thus, even if Nonito Donaire, Jr. would ultimately end up knocking the lights out of his opponents, many fight fans would sometimes not be satisfied with the way he fights.

For example, this writer has watched the Donaire-Nishioka fight with five other boxing fans over some pizzas and beer, and these guys are no ordinary or run-of-the-mill fight fans, for they know their boxing well. They have been around and witnessed the Kronk and Tommy Hearns era in Detroit.

But despite watching Nonito Donaire, Jr. running rings around Toshiaki Nishioka and giving the Japanese a neat boxing lesson, and eventually stopping him in the 9th round, they were of the opinion that there was something lacking in the fight. They compared the fight to the food offerings typically found in a fast food chain -- bland, hard to swallow and no flavor at all.

And there lies the rub.

Note: This article was previously published on Detroit Fight Sports Examiner

End Game: Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez III

Tonight, the third and probably final installment of the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez trilogy will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, and promises to be a war between two protagonists who both want to prove a point and end all the questions on who is the superior fighter between them.

The very technical and skilled counter-puncher in Juan Manuel Marquez faces Manny Pacquiao, the speedy offensive dynamo, in a fight that will finally settle the score and close the final chapter of their highly competitive, well-fought and controversial history. A history between two warriors who carry the weight of their nations on their shoulders, a history of pride and determination that was documented in blood, sweat and tears ever since they first traded punches in 2004 and reprised the part in 2008.


*Continue reading the article HERE

HBO Ring Life: Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez recap

Boxing fans will learn more about Juan Manuel Marquez than they will about Manny Pacquiao in this episode. This is because we are now so acquainted with the life story of Manny Pacquiao that it seems there is very little left out there that has not been covered in the past. Yet, there were some new insights that we can get if we watch and listen close enough.

The episode started with Manny Pacquiao telling his story that we've all heard before, and then some. Growing up in the Phillipines, Manny Pacquiao was "dirt poor, abandoned by his father, no money to buy food," and turned to boxing to help his mother make ends meet.

"I turned pro at 16, from the beginning I was not a very good fighter and I don't have natural talent but I had a determination to win the fight." -- Of course, considering where he is now, we all know that this was just partly true, because at a young age, with minimal or no amateur experience at all, Manny Pacquiao was not a very good fighter. But with his hard work and determination, Manny Pacquiao discovered his innate talent in prizefighting, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Freddie Roach, for his part, spoke of his chance meeting with the current pound-for-pound fighter in the world, which he now attributes to fate: "12 years ago he walked into my gym and his manager asked me to work the mitts with him. After one round, I was impressed with his quickness and timing. Every time he hit the mitts, it sounded like gunfire."

So, I said to my friend after the short workout, 'This kid can fight!'"

And Manny Pacquiao went back to his manager and told him, "We have a new trainer."


*Continue reading the article- HERE